Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-08-19

Indicate pretty clearly an eminent,
though unsavory, theological person.
age. He asserted that he had seen
him many times during the period his
''seekln';;" that they had it, in fact,
NIP and tuck" often and often,
down the road that skirts the grave
yard above mentioned: One peculiar
lty that he was willing to take his
Bible oath to was that the horns OF
the parsonage in question were blue
in color and GRUMPY in. form. He
always rode a white horse, too, and
as he scurried after a sinner, had g.
trick OF brandishing his tail like de-.
vouring lion; distanciug the king Of
beasts in this; that tail flashed like
"a streak o. lightnin'" and at times
cracked like whip. ~ -
Under all the circumstances Ihold
that it would not be the fair minded
thing to sneer at Billy for his resigna.
ton under the providential dispense
ton which relieved him from theme
cesslty OF travelling this road every
Saturday night. Rheumatic has it's
compensation.
This is the proper place for acquaint-
ing the reader with the fact that the
graveyard in question together with a
ruined, disused church) lay about one
mile from the judges. Three miles
further was the country seat of our
reckless and skeptical friend Billups.
One mile further was the court house
village, for which MIR. May now order
ed his horse.
1t had been Blllup's intention to de-
fer his departure to q latter hour, but
finding May immovable in his resolve
to set out in defiance of probable
soaking, he recklessly ordered his
horse. Riding alone at night was such
q bore.
They were approaching the grave
yard.
''That was an interesting story
that you gave us tonight, Mr.. May.
We're you serious when you said that
the thing actually occurred? or were
you merely amusing the ladies?
"Serious? why, of course I was, and
what's more ! did see a. ghost once
though did not like to say so before
them"
"saw ghost? nonsense! Why, I
thought you said you did not believe
in such-wha-wha-wha. what's that?"
"That's a screecn-owl. What an
uncanny voice! I don't wonder at
your shivering.';
@'Me shivering at an owl? its the
damp air.
"Oh'' said May dryly. II don't be-
iieve in ghosts any more than you
do" He continued. "If saw a
thousand OF them should not believe
in them. AS a matter Of fact, 1 have
never seen but one.'
one more than any one else ever saw"
"By the way. Billups, this ought
not to be bad night for ghosts; a
flash and then darkness. When the
flash comes you know where they are;
and Instantly afterward you have no
idea what they may be up to. 1t was
just such a night, at any rate, that /
saw my ghost. l had been on a. court
ing expedition and just as was rid
ing past a small opening in the woods,
in which stood the chimney OF what
had been years ago a. happy home,
perhaps, q flash came and l saw be-
fore me, in the middle of the road
well, as you don't believe in 'em, you
may call it anything you please-but
it was tall and white and waved it's
arms"
"1t was g. negro going to his wife's
house and taking off his hat to you"
"Precisely what Thought. But my
horse was OF a different opinion. 1t
was pitch dark after the flash, but
though I spurred him and dashed him
he did nothing but back and snort
and tremble. Presently there came
another flash and there it was still,
slowly advancing and sawingits arms.
I demanded it's name, fiercely order
ed it out of the road, while my horse
plunged and quivered in every nerve.
Do. you know, ! think that horses
often imagine that they see ghosts?"
May had no sooner uttered these
words than Billup's horse, swerving
to the right, plunged violently forward
closely followed by Mays.
Billups could not explain this freak,
and May, although ne might have
shed some light ON the matter, neglect.
ed to dosso The Toe of his right foot
thrust violently into the flank of Bill
lups mettiesome charger, and held
there, had something to do with it, no
doubt.
"What's the matter. with these
darned fools?" inquired May.
III can't im-m-m-n,aglne," chartered
Billups. It. was growing very damp.
''Tell me the rest OF the story
=" Well, at last dismounted, tied my
horse, grasped my stout whip handle
and advanced cautiously, awaiting I,
flash. When one came the tonfounded
thing stood facing me not three yards
off. It was MASKING it's teeth. I could
hear them snap distinctly"
"Ogh! how chill the air is! Wha.wh
wha-what did you do"
~ let drive at him, OF course, with
the butt OF my whip. It went through
hin, as though ha we're mere mist.
Another flash came q second later. It
had vanished. l felTin dead swoon.
I awoke an=hour later, and, mounting
my horseerode 'nadly to the house OF
my lnanaorata. Ifell heavily against
the door ID another swoon. Thefanl-
lily srushedsout. After while I recov.
cred and told my story. Next morn
ing the fair young girl, whom I idoliz-
ed froze me with her chill disdain-she
that had been SO tender. have rare
~ SMILED since. Isn't that the grave
yard, just ahead"
!, .''Y.y-y-yes. It is q comfort that
neither ofus believein spirits?''
''No," said May authoratively,
"there are no such things. Even ii
they existstheyare perfectly harmless.
See what . DISADVANTAGE my ghost
had me at. Islay.in swoon for an
hour completely 1t his mercy, and
.whatiharui did he do me-? OF course